Cubs bolster pitching staff with trades for Soroka, Kittredge

CHICAGO -- Adding reinforcements to the pitching staff has been a primary goal for Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer leading up to this year’s Trade Deadline. Chicago’s front office began to address that need on Wednesday night with a deal to land righty Michael Soroka from the Nationals.

On the eve of Thursday’s 5 p.m. CT Deadline, the Cubs announced that they agreed to a trade that would bring Soroka to Chicago in exchange for shortstop prospect Ronny Cruz (No. 13 on Pipeline’s Top 30 list for the Cubs) and outfield prospect Christian Franklin (No. 14).

TRADE DETAILS
Cubs receive: RHP Michael Soroka
Nationals receive: INF Ronny Cruz (Cubs’ No. 13 prospect), OF Christian Franklin (Cubs’ No. 14)

“I know Jed’s working really hard,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said after Wednesday’s 10-3 win over the Brewers in Milwaukee. “There’s time to go left, so you just kind of see what happens. You’ve got to be responsible to this team and the future of the Cubs, and he’s working hard at it.”

The Cubs also reached a deal on Wednesday to acquire veteran righty Andrew Kittredge from the Orioles -- a trade that became official Thursday morning. The 35-year-old reliever has a 3.45 ERA in 31 appearances this season for Baltimore, which received shortstop prospect Wilfri De La Cruz (Pipeline’s No. 17 Cubs prospect) in the swap.

Soroka signed a one-year, $9 million contract with the Nationals last offseason to work out of the rotation, but also has experience as a multi-inning reliever. That fits the type of versatile arm Chicago tends to like to boost the overall depth, offering an option for both the starting staff and relief corps.

This season for Washington, the 27-year-old Soroka turned in a 4.87 ERA in 16 starts with 87 strikeouts against 24 walks in 81 1/3 innings. His 25.4% strikeout percentage is currently a career-best mark and his innings total represents his most since 2019 (174 2/3). That season, Soroka was an All-Star and National League Rookie of the Year runner-up.

Injuries have plagued Soroka since that stellar ‘19 campaign, costing him the entire ‘21-22 seasons. The pitcher missed all of April this year due to a right biceps strain. Soroka has posted a 3.00 ERA in his four most recent appearances, but his four-seam velocity has dropped in July (92.1 mph, per Statcast) compared to June (94.4 mph).

Last year, Soroka started and relieved for the White Sox, posting an impressive showing out of the bullpen. In 16 relief outings for the South Siders last year, he spun a 2.75 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 36 innings.

Soroka has leaned mostly on his four-seamer (45.3% usage, per Statcast) and slurve (34.6%) this year, but also features a changeup and sinker. The slurve, in particular, is a plus breaking pitch that has produced a 38.1% whiff rate, a .124 opponents’ average and a .237 opponents’ slugging percentage this season.

The Cubs rotation is missing Justin Steele (left elbow surgery in April) for the season and veteran Jameson Taillon (right calf strain) is on the injured list, but beginning a Minor League rehab assignment soon. Righty Javier Assad (left oblique) is also on the IL and working his way back after being sidelined since Spring Training.

While Chicago has had arms step up amid injury setbacks to the rotation, the team wants enhanced depth for the stretch run. Soroka fits that mold, but could also potentially slide into the bullpen to help a group that has slipped some in July after a strong collective run in the previous few months.

Kittredge signed a one-year pact with the Orioles following a strong ‘24 showing (2.80 ERA in 74 games) for the Cardinals. The righty is under contract for $9 million and his deal includes a $9 million team option (or $1 million buyout) for ‘26. A veteran of nine MLB seasons, Kittredge uses a sinker-slider mix with strong command to generate whiffs and grounders.